COVID-19: Update – New Wage Subsidy Now Open

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Update: Dec. 22

The federal government’s Bill C-2 passed into law last Friday, Dec. 17. The online application is now open as of Dec. 21. The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) that gives up to 75% of wages and rent is also available to Arts and Cultural organizations that are “organizing, promoting, hosting, supporting or participating in events that meet the artistic or cultural interests of patrons, such as: live performances and exhibits intended for public viewing.” See here for information and to apply.

Update: Oct. 21

Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced that the government is taking targeted action to create jobs and spur economic growth.

• Extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent and increase the subsidy rate to 50 per cent. The extension would help businesses continue to hire back workers and to create the additional jobs Canada needs for a full recovery.
• Deliver targeted support to businesses that are still facing significant pandemic-related challenges. Support would be available through two streams:
  • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, to hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent.
  • Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, which would provide support through the wage and rent subsidy programs, would support other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent.

Read the press release.

Update: July 30

The Canadian government issued a press release today extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy by 4 weeks to October 23. The announcement also included an increase of the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021 from a maximum of 20% to 40%. See the government’s backgrounder here.

April 20 update:

It was announced yesterday that the federal government is extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) programs until Sept. 25. They had been scheduled to expire in June. The new budget also proposed adding additional qualifying periods for these supports until Nov. 20, 2021, if required

March 4 update:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier this week that the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) would be extended to June 5. These programs were originally scheduled to expire on March 13.

December 7 update: 

CEBA loans for eligible businesses have increased from $40,000 to $60,000. Half the loan is forgivable if repaid by Dec. 31, 2022. Applicants who have already received the $40,000 CEBA loan may apply for the $20,000 expansion, which provides eligible businesses with an additional $20,000 in financing. All applicants have until March 31, 2021, to apply for $60,000 CEBA loan or the $20,000 expansion.

Those eligible to obtain the CEBA loan under the payroll stream can apply directly through their business account at their bank. Visit https://ceba-cuec.ca for the list of banks now accepting applications.

December 1 update:

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland revealed Monday that the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy would be restored to a maximum of 75% after being peeled back a few months ago to 65%. The maximum rate will return to 75% beginning December 20 through to March 13, 2021.

November 24th update:

The Senate of Canada has passed Bill C-9, the most recent COVID-19 relief bill, which will extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) until June 2021, keeping the current subsidy rate maximum at 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020. All businesses with a revenue decline will be eligible to apply. 

A new commercial rent subsidy program has also been introduced. The Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) will provide new rent and mortgage interest support to qualifying tenants and property owners until June 2021. The new CERS covers up to 65 percent of eligible expenses for businesses, charities, and non-profits that have been impacted by the pandemic. This includes rent, property taxes, insurance, and interest on mortgages for businesses until December 19. A provision in Bill C-9 that would require business owners to pay their rent before receiving the funding. For more information about the CERS, click here. 

October 9th update:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today the official extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) to June 2021 as well as additional loans through the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). A new rent relief program allowing businesses, specifically those that have been affected by COVID-19, to apply directly has also been announced.

The federal government has also updated the CEWS program, freezing the wage eligibility at 65 percent until December 19th. As for the CEBA, small businesses who can prove they have faced income losses specifically caused by COVID-19 can apply for additional loans of $20,000. It will be possible for $10,000 of those additional loans to be turned into forgivable loans if paid back by a certain date.

September 25th update:

The Trudeau government announced it is extending the federal wage subsidy until summer 2021. The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) was framed as a means of creating one million jobs and returning employment to pre-pandemic levels. Details have still to be announced.

“The CEWS helped people keep their jobs, or be rehired if they had been laid off,” said Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, who read the speech from the throne on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

August 12th update:

An updated calculator has been made available on the CEWS website to help employers estimate what help they may receive from the next phase. After entering information about the situation of their business, an estimate of the subsidy they can expect to receive will be made. This calculator will also will help companies make informed decisions about retaining or rehiring workers.

May 20th update:

The Canada Emergency Business Account program is now available to a greater number of businesses. The CEBA will now be available to businesses with payrolls under $20,000 that are sole proprietors receiving income directly from their businesses, businesses that rely on contractors, and family-owned corporations that pay employees through dividends rather than payroll. In order to qualify under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants with payroll lower than $20,000 would need:

• a business operating account at a participating financial institution
• a Canada Revenue Agency business number, and to have filed a 2018 or 2019 tax return.
• eligible non-deferrable expenses between $40,000 and $1.5 million. Eligible non-deferrable expenses could include costs such as rent, property taxes, utilities, and insurance.

May 15 Update:

The government of Canada will extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) by three months to the end of August. More details to come.

April 17 Update: 

The government of Canada will provide $500 million to Canadian Heritage for the arts and sports. Here is the official statement from the Department of Finance:

Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations

Canadian cultural, heritage and sport organizations are facing significant financial losses due to COVID-19. They have lost potential revenues from closed facilities or cancelled events. Meanwhile, they are facing challenges accessing Canada’s broader support measures such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy because of unique seasonal revenues and costs.

The new COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations will provide $500 million to help address the financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors. The fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage via contribution agreements.

Support will be provided in a manner consistent with other COVID-19 supports such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA).

April 16 Update: 

Here are changes Canada Emergency Business Account: the threshold for eligibility has been changed: an organization would need to have a 2019 payroll between $20,000 and $1.5 million. Organizations must apply through their online Bank account.

April 14 Update: 

On Saturday, the parliament and senate of Canada passed legislation for the $73 billion Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to encourage organizations to rehire previously lay off workers and to keep workers on payroll. There are some changes and the full details have been updated here. Here are highlights of the changes:

• Eligibility: In order to provide certainty to employers, once an employer is found eligible for a specific period, the employer automatically qualifies for the next period. The earlier condition was that organizations had to applied each month to be eligible.

• Calculating Revenues: An employer’s revenue for this purpose is its revenue in Canada earned from arm’s-length sources. Revenue is calculated using the employer’s normal accounting method, and exclude revenues from extraordinary items and amounts on account of capital. Employers are allowed to calculate their revenues under the accrual method or the cash method, but not a combination of both. Employers select an accounting method when first applying for the CEWS and require to use that method for the entire duration of the program. For registered charities and non-profit organizations, the calculation includes most forms of revenue, excluding revenues from non-arm’s length persons. These organizations are allowed to choose whether or not to include revenue from government sources as part of the calculation. Once chosen, the same approach applies throughout the program period.

The New Canada Emergency Business Account with a $40,000 loan guarantee came online as of Thursday, April 9. An organization can apply online through their bank account.

April 1 Update: 

RE Wage Subsidy: Non-profits and charities are eligible. The subsidy would be based upon 30% decrease vs the same month in 2019 for March, April and May, and will be evaluated on a month by month basis. Consequently, organizations will need to apply each month. Organizations must apply in a new portal which will be available next week. The subsidy will be available 6 weeks after application.

• The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would apply at a rate of 75 per cent of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per week. The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
• Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy.
• Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
• For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances. The government is also considering additional support for non-profits and charities, particularly those involved in the front line response to COVID-19. Further details will be announced in the near term.
• An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.
• Those organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may continue to qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10 per cent of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

More details in the press release from the Department of Finance.

The cost to the tax payers is costed at $71 Billion.

March 31 Update: 

RE $40,000 loan: The government requires organizations to contact their financial institution. According to an account manager at RBC, the bank is working on an online portal to handle all applications for this loan which will be ready either tomorrow (April 1) or Friday (April 3). The only criteria is that the business or organization have spent at least $50,000 in payroll in 2019. The government will then verify this fact. RBC hopes the funds will then be available sometime next week.

Bill Morneau was expecting to speak today with more details about the 75% wage subsidy, but he later postponed it to Wednesday, April 1.

March 30 Update: 

In his Monday address, Prime Minister Trudeau provided details on the 75% wage subsidy:

• Non-profits are eligible, as well as businesses of any size
• Organizations must has shown that they have experienced reduced revenues by 30%
• The 75% wage subsidy will cover up to $847 per week

In his Friday address (March 27) to Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a 75% wage subsidy for qualifying small and medium-sized businesses for 3 months to help them survive the COVID-19 crisis and keep their workers on the payroll. This is an increase from the 10% subsidy previous announced, which was also available for non-profit organizations, and hopefully this 75% subsidy will also be extended to non-profits.

“This means that people will continue to be paid even though their employer has had to slow down or stop operations because of COVID-19,” he said. “We’re helping companies keep people on the payroll so that workers are supported and the economy is positioned to recover from this. That is our priority.”

This is a developing story, and the article will be updated.

Keywords: artists, musicians, non-profits, charities

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